Background Climate change adversely impacts population health; globally it is predicted to contribute to an excess of 250,000 deaths per year by 2050 (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate change 2022: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability). Therefore, ensuring sustainability in healthcare provision is essential for advancing the health of current and future generations (Molero, Calabrò, Vignes, et al. Ann Lab Med. 2021;41(2):139–144). Medicines and chemicals contribute to 20% of the National Health Service’s ‘Carbon Footprint Plus emissions’ (NHS England. Delivering a ‘Net Zero’ National Health Service. 2022). Across two hospices, dispensed but no longer required medications were disposed. Many could have been utilised as stock medication instead. Therefore, a procedure for medication reuse was established to avoid shortages, minimise waste and improve sustainability of the hospices.

Aim To develop a safe and effective procedure for managing unwanted dispensed medications, to reduce waste and improve sustainability.

Method The hospice pharmacist clarified appropriate processes for the management of redundant medications. Subsequently, a procedure outlining the identification, handling and documentation of suitable reusable medications was developed. Registered nurses were trained in the procedure, appropriate medications were assessed by the pharmacist and an audit trail kept. Since implementation, data collection occurred monthly to assess which medications were reused as stock, their quantity and cost.

Results From 2021 to 2023 238 different medications were reused across both hospices. Hospice 1 saved a total of £15,582, averaging £5,194 in savings per year. Over the same period, Hospice 2 saved a total of £946.28, averaging £315.43 in savings per year. Initially, implementation at this hospice was affected by constraints on storage, thus adaptations were required. In overcoming this they have saved £1,117 in 2024 so far, already surpassing their savings for the past three years combined.

Conclusion Through waste reduction and cost savings, introduction of the medication reuse procedure improved sustainability across both hospices. However, operational aspects impacted the extent of successful implementation. Therefore, these factors must be considered when exploring utilization of this procedure on a wider scale.